Drag Queen Story Time

Did Leeds Libraries or Leeds council consider the ramifications of teaching children in attendance to treat the noise of a fire alarm as a cue to party?

I'm not sure what the typical age range would have been, but if they're old enough to remember the visit, they're old enough to take in a message that it's okay to ignore fire alarms if it's more fun to stay inside. In my personal experience of library story times, children may be as old as five.

Well, I don't think any feminists have been shouting slurs at anyone, tbh.

There are frequent attempts to try and claim feminists are 'allied with' or 'aligned with' all sorts of groups - from Putin to US Xtian rightwing groups. Lately there have been claims those protests at DGSH have featured feminists.

I don't know any feminists that advocate for these protests - they are being staged by completely different groups as far as I'm aware.

Rebekah Warshbale was good on the somewhat complicated dynamics:

grahamlinehan.substack.com/p/wont-somebody-actually-think-of-the

@ArabellaScott this is exactly my frustration at both sides, the ‘no debate, be kind, we’ve made the police aware.’ and shouting unfounded slurs at an adult in front of small children. Both sides want the best for children, one assumes but nobody is listening to each other. Role models for children, or meeting adults or children from diverse backgrounds should be encouraged and supported in an age appropriate and respectful manner from everyone.

Am still unsure exactly what group is being represented by the dqst as the event appears to be more like the Gruffulo reading a story and stating this is inclusive as the actor/reader is from a protected group….how would we know? They are in a costume, nobody lives full-time as a Gruffulo anymore than a drag queen.

Nobody is compromising or listening. And in the case of Wokingham, the truth is very elastic as there have not been similar story time events or children’s events for other protected groups. At least not promoted by the council.

Ignore that post.

twitter.com/AidaHDeeDrag/status/1557025230601814018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

"That some people support adult entertainers reading books to children"

Was the entertainer doing anything of an adult nature when reading?

www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk/news/20666236.drag-story-time-slated-return-oldham-library/
Oldham Library is set to host more drag story times – with dates currently unconfirmed.
The news comes after homophobic protests led to the cancellation of a similar event in Rochdale earlier this month.

Were they homophobic protests in Rochdale?

It's the aggression and refusal to countenance any dissent that gets me the most, to be honest.

To me, it suggests cognitive dissonance. People are very quick to create a two-sided issue, make it a tribally-aligned viewpoints and create a battle. Then we end up with things like the vocal protests we're seeing at libraries ( - which, for what it's worth, I also don't think are a great experience for children, nor an effective way to counter queer ideology.)

Instead, we could be discussing the nuances and possible implications rationally and calmly, accepting that people have different views, and working out ways to navigate what is becoming a more and more contentious topic.

This dynamic has played out over all the various interlinked issues over the past few years. 'No debate' doesn't work for very long; it only forces people to 'protest' in order to allow the issues to be discussed, and quite often creates bad feeling and resentment, too, effectively keeps the temperature of debate turned up high.

Interestingly, when the issues are forced to be discussed calmly, openly and rationally, we are often finding people come to common sense conclusions - Maya Forstater's tribunal, the Cass Report, the Attorney General's statement on schools, etc.

And thanks @NitroNine and @ArabellaScott for your kind words. Am feeling very on my own and just upset at local people just attacking any questioning especially reasonable ones. It is a storm in a teacup and I think people just are being aggressive without stopping to think. I also can’t respond because of my employment and I hate to stand by watching it. I have made a silent protest by booking tickets and obviously not going. My council tax has funded the event, assuming this goes towards libraries.

Was thinking about other entertainers who have/had acts not aimed/ suitable for children who have moved into writing children’s books and their approach to engaging with a family/child audience. Julian Clary and Madonna sprung to mind. Julian Clary certainly had costumes and content which nobody would consider child friendly, nor was that his aim, and he has written a series of children’s books. A quick look at images of him at children’s events and he is presenting a very different image to his comedy tours. Then Madonna, I love her attitude, loads of photos, video, books that you’d probably not share at school but she didn’t turn up in her stage costume to read her books. She got a shed load of criticism for her books but she was acute enough to present another side of herself.

Spending far too much time wondering at the lack of logic in giving such free rein to an individual who is getting so much publicity on the back of people questioning the wisdom of how the event has been presented.

But I cannot understand the intention of your post. So, I am just guessing.

We should bear in mind that if Margarita P were ever minded to attend such an event (on whichever side), MP would be described as a Mumsnet regular.

NB: a pretty typical example of MP's concern for accuracy and ability to read links that they consider to be gotchas (spoiler, as the news story MP linked states in the second paragraph, the young woman was not responsible for the death), but MP represents that the young woman killed the man).

www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4523725--1k-fine-for-attack-on-a-17-year-old-girl?reply=116439830

It's very strange, as have only seen first seconds of video, but the drag queen's penis outline cannot be seen here, no matter his movements. Suggest to me that he did have an erection in this other image from an earlier event. twitter.com/PinkNews/status/1540671598042042368 Apologies for the Pink News linkie.

This mum with her child got manhandled out of Blackpool Library by black-clad security thugs whilst trying to peacefully protest yesterday.

And your point is pie? That some people support adult entertainers reading books to children?

Yes, we know.

That the Bolton News seems to write with a bias?

Yes, we can see.

That physical protests where people are yelling where children are likely to be scared should be reconsidered and run differently, silently for a start to keep children from being upset.

Yes, I am surprised you are unaware of the fact that we know this. Being Mumsnet and many posters having plenty of direct experience with children.

And I am surprised you haven’t picked up that there are few, if any, of us joining those protests at the libraries. Instead we are taking other actions that are not scaring children.

But I cannot understand the intention of your post. So, I am just guessing.

From the above link:

Simon Clark, from Moses Gate said: "What is wrong with a drag queen in a fairy tale dress reading a book to children. I have a nine-year-old niece and she would absolutely love that.

“This protest today is just ridiculous, this is no different to what is happening in the library to what happens on stage in pantomines.

“I am very proud Bolton went ahead with the event. The fact that it sold out shows that Bolton does not care what bigots think and show that we are not putting up with your hatred.

“It was only two weeks ago we had Bolton pride here and we did not
see this happening, there were drag queens on stage then and families were there.

“The protest is just pointless.”

One passer-by said: “Everyone has a different opinion, but why are they outside protesting like this?

“They should leave it alone, it’s not very nice to be shouting at parents with children like that.”

Another couple said: “It’s quite upsetting to see this sort of behaviour in Bolton.

Oh you poor thing @Gobbolinothekitchencat - as Arabella said, you’re neither unreasonable nor unkind for having the thoughts/concerns/ideas/beliefs that you’ve expressed here.

Indeed you’re clearly very kind because that’s a generous review of the available extracts. Using an obsolete spelling isn’t appropriate with this [reading] age group & tbh I think the author is on shaky ground with the (presumably intended to convey bleating & [re-]emphasise the number of goats in the family) repeated & consistent misspelling of the word three.

Remember to look after yourself when it’s all feeling too much: things can easily start feeling overwhelming.

www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/20667875.drag-queen-story-hour-bolton-leads-protest/

Raising safeguarding concerns for children and sticking up for women's rights is reasonable and kind.

It's the new orthodoxy that is the upside-down.

The Bolton News is reporting a few arrests. Lots of comments of support for ADHD on news article on Facebook.

@NitroNine thanks, yes I have had a read of that thread, just had a bit of a wobble today as I believe myself to be a reasonable, kind person but Local FB has tipped me over today and was feeling very isolated. Some really great ideas on that thread, a pity that suspect not enough sequins and glitter for local library.

Have had a read of the book extracts, was trying to be charitable but doesn’t grab my attention, I like the illustrations though. Expensive for two books.

How is the Bolton one going today?

There’s been quite a lot of discussion in this thread about what “diversity storytime” could/should look like if that interests you at all @Gobbolinothekitchencat ?

Have you seen the extracts of the books?

Just attending is enough to show your support for Diversity and Inclusion, apparently...

twitter.com/rachelbf3/status/1559908744896696320?s=20&t=tlNq8Wpvw4uYAs5_VEui2A

Get the impression this thread isn’t as active as it was, so not expecting a response, I just really need to offload. Am fairly local to an upcoming event, as evidenced from screenshots above, and locally any discussion on social media is being closed down, ridiculed, accused of bigotry and I can’t publicly speak out because of my employment. People just seem to assume it is transphobia or homophobia and right wing political views which are questioning the story time. All this drama over story time….. I am uncomfortable because of the name which, I am sorry, isn’t positive, it’s insulting although I understand the individual self identifies as having ADHD and autism and perhaps they do. I, personally, having met anyone with these diagnoses who are quite as flippant but that is probably because I just haven’t met someone like that. I have met a lot of unhappy and confused young people and children with those diagnoses.

Am unhappy with public funds paying an author to promote a book and one assumes, generate future sales. My experience is that authors promote for free, although assume once more successful they charge. Also, why is the whole focus on the individual not the book? Usually it is the other way around. The book is almost irrelevant.

Then there is the costume, nobody appears to see it as a slight red flag. Even if this was a regular tight vest and tight plain trousers, nobody seems to question the wisdom of it in front of small children. Would they think the outfit was okay for a job interview, perhaps with less sequins? If it’s about the message of the story, then we don’t need to see your p*nis.

And since when are drag queens a minority? It’s being presented as an event to broaden inclusion but who is it actually helping? Children with gay family members? Children questioning their sexuality? Children questioning their gender? The drag queen parents shunned at the school gates?

My head feels like it is going to explode as this has just mushroomed into something bigger than it ought to be. All it really took was someone, from each library service, at the start to tell them, we welcome your idea about inclusive stories, , we don’t normally pay but … and perhaps could you wear something less form-hugging as it is a family event, oh and we have checked your social media and are you really sure you understand this will be an audience of children? Nope, now we have anger, hatred, police forces being briefed and protesters ending up looking like they are scaring children.

Just needed to off-load.